Air-lift pump



R. H. TUCKER AIR LIFT PUMP May 21, 1929.

Filed Nov. 24, 1925 Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES RALPH H. TUCKER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AIR-LIFT PUMP.

Application filed November 24, 1925. Serial No. 71,113.

This invention relates to improvements in air lift pumps, which are primarily designed for elevating li uids from wells.

An object of t e invention is to provide an improved form of pump having a lifting screw which is rotated by a type of fan or turbine so as to initiall lift the oil or other well fluid, and which a so employs a type of air or gas lift which assists in raising the fluid.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the improved pump,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the pump is shown as being disposed within a well casing 10. An outer pipe 11 extends from the surface of the ground downwardly within the well casing and within this outer pipe there is arranged an inner pipe 12 slightly spaced therefrom to permit the passage of air or gas. A packing ring 13 forms a closure between the outer pipe 11 and the inner pipe 12 above an inlet 14 which is adapted to convey compressed air or compressed gas to the interior of the outer pipe. On the bottom of the outer pipe 11 there is mounted a shoe or pump housing 15, and a packing ring 16 forms a closure between the shoe or housing 15 and the lower end of the inner pipe 12. Some distance below the lower end of the innor pipe 12 there is formed a partition 17 within the housing, which has an aperture 18 formed in its center. A cylindrical shell 19 which has open ends extends through the aperture 18 and is rotatable therein. This shell has a lifting screw 20 rigidly secured within it and extending approximately from end to end. The lifting screw 20 is in the form of a twisted blade which is disposed within the shell and which in width is equal to the diameter of the shell, so that the screw forms two helical passages in the shell, both of which are closed at their sides but are open at their ends.

Immediately below the partition 17 there is mounted on the shell 19 a fan or turbine 21 having blades or vanes 22. This turbine or fan is rigidly secured to the shell so that when it rotates it will cause the shell to rotate and the lifting screw 20 will be rotated with it. Below the turbine 21there is mounted within the pump housing 15 abearing block 23, on which rests the lower race 24 of an anti-friction bearing 25. The upper race 26 fits against the under side of the turbine 21. This bearing provides a thrust bearing, preventing downward movement of the shell 19. On the under side of the bearing block 23 there is arranged the upper race 27 of an anti-friction bearing 28 which has its lower race 29 mounted on nuts 30 on the shell. This construction provides a thrust bearing, preventing upward movement of the shell 19 through the bearing block. The lower thrust bearing seldom comes into play except when the gas pressure in the well is so great that it tends to force the shell 19 upwardly within the well. The lower thrust bearing is protected by means of a cap 31, threadedly mounted upon the interior of the shoe or housing 15.

A cylindrical member 32 is mounted on top of the partition 17 and forms an exhaust chamber 33 about the shell 19. It also provides a valve seatfor a check valve 34 which is urged downwardly by means of a coil spring 35 which is compressed between the check valve 34 and a spring seat 36 which bears against the nut 37'mounted on the upper end of the shell 19. In the walls of the shoe or housing 15 there are formed'one or more bores, and in the present instance two bores are shown indicated at 38, which are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the housing. The upper ends of the bores 38 communicate with the interior of the pump housing 15 above the ring 16, so that compressed air or gas flowing downwardly betweenthe inner and outer pipes 12 and 11 may pass downwardly through the walls of the pump housing. The lower ends of the bores 38 communicates with the interior of the pump housing 15 opposite the turbine 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. In the partition 17 and arranged at substantially 90 deg. from the bores 38 there are formed exhaust apertures 39, permitting the gas exhausted irom the turbine to enter the exhaust cham- The operation of the pump a as an...

Compressed air or compressed gas is continually supplied to the interior of the outer pipe 11 through the pipe 1%. It flows downwardly between the pipes, enters the bores 38 and is discharged against the blades or vanes 22 of the turbine 21, causing the turbine to rotate, thus rotating the shell 19 and the screw 20. The liquid in the well is picked up by the lifting screw 20 and is caused to be lifted within the shell 19 to the interior of the pump housing 15. The compressed air or gas is exhausted through the exhaust apertures 39 and enters the exhaust chamber 33. In a short time after the starting up of the pump the exhaust pressure will build up and be sufficient to raise the check valve 34 against the action of the spring 35 and the column of liquid resting on the check valve. In this manner the exhaust gas is discharged into the interior of the pump housing and is allowed to pass upwardly through an inner pipe 12, acting as a type of air lift pump and assisting the lifting screw 20 in elevating the liquid. The exhaust gas serves to elevate a material part of the liquid. While the lifting screw 20 will also lift the liquid, its primary purpose is to draw the liquid into the pump housing, so that it may be picked up and lifted by the escaping exhaustair or gas. When the check valve 34: is lifted from its seat by the exhaust gas, it will rotate with the shell 19, while the gas is escaping beneath it. If desired, however, an anti-friction hearing may be positioned between the spring seat 36 and the nut 37 to reduce wear between these parts when the pump is started and before the check valve 34: has been lifted from its seat.

From theabove described construction it will be readily appreciated that an improved form of air pump is provided for lifting liquids from wells. It will be found that a pump of this construction can operate very satisfactorily in sandy wells wherein the liquid carries with it large quantities of sand and there is a considerable quantity of gas pressure. It therefore has many advantages over the reciprocating plunger type of well pump in that the sand will not wear the parts of the pump and the excess quantity of gas will not interfere with its operation.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the detail of construction Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. A well pump comprising an inner pipe,

I an outer pipepump housing mounted upon the lower ends of said pipes, an open ended shell rotatably mounted within said housing, means defining a plurality of helical passages within the shell which have their sides closed but which are open at their ends, a turbine mounted in the housing about the shell, means for supplying a compressed gas between the pipes, and means for conveying the gas to the turbine causing the turbine, shell and screw to rotate so that the screw may lift liquid through the housing and inner pipe.

2. A well pump comprising an inner pipe, an outer pipe, a pump housing mounted upon the lower ends of said pipes, an open ended shell rotatably mounted within said housing, means defining a plurality of helical passages within the shell which have their sides closed but which are open at their ends, a turbine mounted in the housing about the shell, means for supplying a compressed gas between the pipes, means for conveying the gas to the turbine causing the turbine, shell and screw to rotate so that the screw may lift liquid through the housing and inner pipe, and means for discharging the exhaust gases from the turbine into the housing and inner pipe.

3. A well pump comprising an inner pipe, an outer pipe, a pump housing mounted upon the lower ends of said pipes, an open ended shell rotatably mounted within said housing, means defining a plurality of helical passages within the shell which have their sides closed but which are open at their ends, a turbine mounted in the housing about the shell, means for supplying a compressed gas between the pipes, means for conveying the gas to the turbine causing the turbine, shell and screw to rotate so that the screw may lift liquid through the housing and inner pipe, means providing an exhaust chamber within said housing into which the exhaust gas from the turbine is discharged, and a downwardly closing check valve permitting the exhaust gas to escape from said exhaust chamber into the housing and inner pipe with the liquid lifted by said screw.

4. An air-lift pump for oil well apparatus comprising a casing, an open-ended shell rotatably mounted in said casing, having a liftscrew therein, said screw being in the form of a twisted blade which extends completely across the interior of the shell so as to form two helical passages in the same, both of which are closed at'their sides and open at their ends, a turbine surrounding said, shell to rotate the same, an exhaust chamber surrounding said shell above said turbine, a spring-pressed valve providing an outlet to said chamber, said chamber communicating with the exhaust of said turbine and means for conducting compressed gases to said turdistant points on the turbine about its circumference, causing the turbine, shell and screw to rotate so that the screw may lift liquid through the housing and inner pipe.

6. A well pump comprising an inner pipe, an outer pipe, a pump housing mounted upon the lower ends of said pipes, an open-ended shell rotatably mounted Within said housing, a lifting screw mounted within said shell, a turbine mounted in the housing about the shell and rigidly secured to the shell, means for supplying a compressed gas to the space between the inner and outer pipes, and means for conveying the gas to a plurality of equidistant points on the turbine about its circumference, causing the turbine, shell and screw to rotate so that the screw may lift liquid through the housing and inner pipe, and means for discharging the exhaust gases from the turbine into the housing and inner pipes.

7. A well pump comprising an inner pipe, an outer pipe, a pump housing mounted upon the lower ends of said pipes, an open-ended shell rotatably mounted within said housing, a lifting screw mounted within said shell, a turbine mounted in the housing about the shell and rigidly secured to the shell, means for supplying a compressed gas to the space between the inner and outer pipes, and means for conveying the gas to a plurality of equidistant points on the turbine about its circumference, causing the turbine, shell and screw to rotate so that the screw may lift liquid through the housing and inner pipe, and means for discharging the exhaust gases from the turbine into the housing and inner pipes, and a check valve permitting the exhaust gas to escape from the turbine into the housing and inner pipe, but preventing flow from the housing and inner pipe into the opposite direction into the turbine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RALPH H. TUCKER. 

